🇱🇾 THREAD: Libyan National Army / Libyan Arab Armed Force #LNA / #LAAF Btns / Logos.
*I'll add a few new ones each day from the set*
Please correct my mistakes and/or add knowledge! Hopefully this is a mutually beneficial project for those studying or researching #Libya.
Al-Saiqa Special Forces
Starting with a tricky one. I was only able to scratch the surface. Interested to confirm that 36 Btn is indeed under the Al-Saiqa umbrella.
LNA Frogmen
1st Battalion
(Ubari / Ghat)
(Great if someone could ID the logo on the third photo, second door in)
6th Infantry Brigade - Sabha
*Defunct*
Many of its fighters joined the LNA in 2018, largely consisting of members of the Awlad Sulieman tribe. However, it is unclear which armed groups incorporated these fighters (Some indications of 128th - needs confirmation).
9th Brigade Tarhuna
Could do with help confirming the final 2 logos relate to the 9th Brigade
#Libya
10th Infantry Brigade - Traghan
12th Brigade
Not much information is available regarding the 12th Brigade (often referred to as 12th Majilis), although it is still active as of April 2020, particularly in Tripoli, on the western border and the road linking Shweref to Nesma.
32nd Brigade
Limited info. Unclear if related to the pro-Gaddafi 32nd Brigade that joined the LNA during Dignity Ops in Benghazi against AAS.
20th Infantry Battalion
The second logo is for the 20th Infantry Battalion Special Operations. Limited information available.
26th Infantry Brigade
Has been active in the Ain Zara Tripoli axis.
27th Battalion – Western Mountains Military Zone
53rd Infantry Battalion - Tiji
Fighters drawn from Tiji, western Libya. Commonly referenced as a ‘support battalion’ fighting alongside 166th / 106th Brigades.
65th Battalion – Sabratha
Also called Al-Wadi, the 65th Battalion was based out of Sabratha. It is now reported to be stationed out of Al Watiya, under the Zawiyah Operations Room.
73rd Infantry Brigade
H/T @Oded121351 & @Arn_Del for prior tweets on this that informed my research.
I have been unable to find logos for all units under 73.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
78th Battalion Support Militia
Formed in Zintan. Has been very active in western Libya securing supply lines into Tripoli and had a contingent at Watiya airbase and Surman. The third iteration of the logo is either defunct or incorrect.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
92nd Support Battalion - Al-Mutrad
Support battalion drawn from the Al-Mutrad area of West Zawiyah, formed November 2019.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
97th Battalion - Zliten
Recruited from Zliten and formed December 2019. Appears to be very small. No operational photos found.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
104th Battalion – Al Bawanis / Samnu
Limited information. Deployed to Tripoli’s Ain Zara axis in January 2020. Historically appears to have been operating around Tobruk and Jufra military regions.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
106th Brigade
A large infantry brigade led by Haftar's son Khaled.
Identified battalions under 106th Brigade so far:
21 Btn (Ajdabiya – possibly became 192 Btn)
32 Btn (needs confirmation)
107 Btn
109 Btn (Tanks?)
111 Btn (Gharyan)
192 Btn
214th Btn
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
110th Battalion
Formed Jan 2018 and took over tasks of the 210th Battalion west of the Oil Crescent, initially stationed out of Ras Lanuf. Recently (Apr) deployed to Abugrein / Al-Washka axis.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
115th Infantry Battalion - Al Marj
Drawn from Al Marj, currently fighting in the Wadi Al-Rabee axis in Tripoli.
They have an (above LNA average) obsession with posting photos of captured GNA vehicles on their Facebook page.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
116th Battalion - Sabha
[Part of 12th Brigade - Sabha]
Actively seized Qardabiya Air Base in Sirte in January 2020. Now believed to be in Tripoli, Ain Zara Axis.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
119th Battalion
Historically operating in the deep south near Sabha / Ubari / Jufra, I believe they are now based in the Abugrein or E-Tarhuna axis.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
127th Battalion
Currently active on the Ain Zara axis in Tripoli alongside 9th Brigade Tarhuna and Ajdabiya operations.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
128th Battalion
Large battalion formed in Jufra, Jun 2017. Active across several theatres.
H/T @W_Lacher / @Oded121351 for previous works/tweets that informed research.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
134th Infantry Battalion - Air Base Protection
*Was* largely dedicated to protecting the Watiya / Uqba ibn Nafi` Air Base.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
140th Infantry Battalion
Said to be active in the Ain Zara / Wadi Al-Rabi'a axis. Could only find non-official logos, which is unusual, and no logos printed on vehicles. Existence questionable, or its a very small btn., despite FB social media presence.
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
155th Infantry Battalion (and tanks)
Currently active in the Ain Zara axis.
Yes, they have a COVID-19 detachment...
#LNA #LAAF #Libya
166th Infantry Battalion
A large infantry btn that has benefited from foreign military equipment and vehicles. It is a very commonly seen logo, suggesting a comparatively large unit.
The Battalion’s vehicles are painted in a distinctive yellow and green camo.
#LNA #Libya
181st Battalion
Sabha-based. Was deployed to Tripoli. Various iterations of logo. Likely small.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
194th Battalion
Was stationed around Ajaylat and Watiya.
Unsure what the 28 refers to? 28th Command?
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
210th Mechanised Infantry Battalion
A large mechanised infantry and tank btn. Was fighting in Abu Salim. Battalion benefits from modern vehicles delivered by LNA foreign backers. Strong Salafist influence.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
604th Battalion (No longer exists)
Salafist, formerly aligned to the GNA. Switched allegiance to the LNA before the January 2020 capture of Sirte and facilitated the LNA’s takeover of the city. Is now believed to fall under the Tariq Bin Zayed brigade.
#LNA #Libya
628th Infantry Battalion – Tragen
Note similarity in logo to 166th Battalion. Targeted by ISIS in an attack around 22nd May (IED).
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
642nd Battalion
Note similarity in logo to 166th Battalion. Limited photos. No social media presence. Present in Tripoli.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
646th Infantry Battalion
A very large, well-equipped battalion. First batch of training recruits reported around November 2019, but unclear whether this is also the inauguration date. Deployed in Tripoli, Benghazi and Al-Washka.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
Tariq Bin-Ziyad Battalion
A very large, Salafist-orientated battalion. Best equipped in the LNA. These guys have had privileged access to Arab backers' kit, like a few other Madkhali Salafist battalions seem to 👀👀
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
#Sebha Joint-Ops Room
It is unclear how these units interact with other battalions in the Sabha area, as these logos are printed on vehicles in the region. Possibly more as local security units than fighting forces.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
The Adiyat (Ordinary) Battalion
Salafist orientated, from #Zintan and #Rajban.
According to @Mansourtalk, has 700 fighters. Est. over 50 vehicles.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
Subul Al-Salam (Ways of Peace) Brigade
Salafist-orientated, from #Kufra.
Selected to receive some very shiny kit.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
Yousef Bin Tashfeen Brigade of Nalut
Unusual - no info. Logo appears to have been doctored from another.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
Ali Bin Abi Taleb Support Militia, Al-Afran
No info. Lost source. Needs further research.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
173rd Infantry Battalion - Ubari
Active in Abugrein axis.
H/T: @albakai26 for flagging this one I missed
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
Uqba bin Nafi Fighter Force
Was stationed to help protect Watiya AB.
Limited info.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
Deterrence (Rada) Force – Central Region
A large military unit for the central region. Said to have strong Salafist influence. Various company specific logos were found. Taking part in fighting in Tripoli. Not to be confused with Tripoli's Salafist Rada.
#LNA #Libya #LAAF
LNA Military Police
Deterrence Force – Ubari/Sabha
Ajdabiya Operations Room
Large military unit. Supposed Salafist influence. Deployed in Tripoli.
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